Earl Shilton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Earl Shilton
Town sign
Earl Shilton
Population	10,047 (2011 Census)
OS grid reference	SP472980
District	Hinckley and Bosworth
Shire county	Leicestershire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Leicester
Postcode district	LE9
Dialling code	01455
Police	Leicestershire
Fire	Leicestershire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Hinckley and Bosworth
Website	Welcome to Earl Shilton
List of places UK England Leicestershire 52°34′40″N 1°18′18″W / 52.57777°N 1.30491°W / 52.57777; -1.30491

Earl Shilton is a market town in Leicestershire, England. It is about 5 miles (8 km) from Hinckley and 10 miles (16 km) from Leicester. In 2011, about 10,047 people lived here.

Exploring Earl Shilton's Past

What's in a Name?

The name Earl Shilton comes from an old English phrase. It means 'farm or settlement on a sloped area'. In the Domesday Book from 1086, it was called Scheltone. This name makes sense because the town sits on a long, narrow ridge.

Ancient Times in Earl Shilton

Before the Romans Arrived

Earl Shilton grew on Shilton Hill in south Leicestershire. An old trading path, the Salt Road, ran below the hill. It connected different parts of Leicestershire. The Corieltauvi tribe built this road. It went along the edge of the Great Leicester Forest. This forest covered much of western Leicestershire. The Salt Road was important for trade for many centuries.

The Corieltauvi tribe came to Britain around 100 BC. They were a group of warriors from continental Europe. They created a kingdom that stretched from the Humber River to south Leicestershire. They were good farmers and lived in low-lying settlements. These were often near streams and hidden by thick forests.

Roman Rule and Early Industry

The Roman army arrived in Britain in 43 AD. They quickly began to take over the land. By 47 AD, Roman soldiers were in Leicestershire. The Corieltauvi tribe welcomed the Romans. They hoped the Romans would protect them from their neighbours, the Brigantes. The Roman Governor, Ostorius Scapula, set up a border. This border, the Fosse Way, ran through friendly Corieltauvi land.

Earl Shilton's first industry started during this time. A pottery workshop was built on Shilton Heath. This was near where Heathfield High School is today. There was good clay in the area. In the early 2nd century, the pottery made simple grey pots. These were used for cooking and storage. Other Roman potteries were nearby in Desford. A quarry was also opened in Stoney Stanton.

Saxon and Danish Periods

Earl Shilton was part of the kingdom of the Middle Angles. This area was built around the River Trent and rivers like the Soar.

Viking raiders first attacked England in the late 700s. Earl Shilton was far inland, so early raids did not affect it. But in 874-875, a large Danish army moved up the River Trent. They went into the heart of Mercia. They attacked Nottingham before moving their ships into north Leicestershire.

The Domesday Book from 1086 mentions Shultone. It had 5 areas of farmland. It was worth 5 shillings during the time of Edward the Confessor.

Medieval Earl Shilton

Norman Conquest and New Lords

After the Norman Conquest, William took over Leicester in 1068. He gave control of Leicester to Hugh de Grandmesnil. Hugh was a Norman adventurer. William also gave him 100 manors, including Earl Shilton. Hugh became the sheriff of Leicestershire.

Earl Shilton in the Domesday Book

Earl Shilton first appears in history in the Domesday Book of 1086. This was England's first full tax record. The village was called Scheltone. It was about 500 acres (2 km²) in size. The village had 3 ploughs, 1 serf (a type of servant), and 4 sokemen. Sokemen were free peasants, a bit like lower nobility. They were thought to be descendants of the Danes.

The village also had a priest, 10 villeins, and 5 bordars. Villeins and bordars were tied to the land. Villeins often held between 30 and 100 acres (12-40 hectares). Bordars had smaller plots of land.

Sheltone had 12 acres (5 hectares) of meadow. It also had a mill and a large woodland. The village population was about 75 to 80 people.

The fields of Earl Shilton were open spaces. They were divided into long, narrow strips. Each peasant family farmed their own strips. Some strips belonged to the local lord. Peasants farmed these as part of their duties. This system was fair because each family had good land in some areas and poorer land in others. Everyone had to plant the same crop in each field. This meant they had to make decisions together. After the harvest, peasants paid the lord to grind their corn at his mill.

Ploughing was also a group effort. The heavy plough needed for northern soils was expensive. Horses or oxen to pull it were also costly. So, a team of animals and a plough worked different strips for different peasants. The long, narrow strips made it easier to turn the team. Villages also had common land. Peasants could graze cattle, collect wood, and sometimes fish there.

Robert de Beaumont Takes Control

Ivo de Grandmesnil died on a crusade. Robert Beaumont then took control of Leicester. He took all the Grandmesnil lands, including Earl Shilton. Robert Beaumont became the first Earl of Leicester.

When Beaumont died in 1118, his son, Robert Bossu, became the 2nd Earl. Robert Bossu owned land across the country. In the 1120s, he started to organize his lands in Leicestershire. He took control of more estates. This gave him a strong block of land.

Later Medieval Earl Shilton

Earl Shilton Castle

Robert Bossu was a close advisor to King Stephen of England. He built up his lands to protect them. During the civil war of 1135-53, Robert Bossu likely started fortifying Shilton Hill. The Earl of Leicester's new castle would protect the Kirkby valley. It also protected his travel routes. Earl Shilton's castle was built near an old chapel called Saint Peter's. This area is known as 'Hall Yard'. Nearby springs provided water for the castle.

The castle was a fortress for about 30 to 40 years. Then it was destroyed and turned into a hunting lodge. There are no records of battles at Earl Shilton. This suggests the castle did its job well. When the local church was rebuilt in 1854, stone from the castle was used.

In 1173, Prince Henry rebelled against his father, King Henry II. Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester joined the Prince. He fought in several battles. In October, the king's supporters attacked. Beaumont was captured and imprisoned. The king then destroyed the rebel Earl's castles, including Earl Shilton. Only Leicester and Mountsorrel castles survived. However, Earl Shilton manor remained important for its income.

Shilton Park: A Hunting Ground

Shilton Park was probably created by Simon de Montfort. He became Earl of Leicester. De Montfort's connection to the village was so strong that 'Earl' was added to its name.

Shilton Park was a hunting ground for the lord. It was filled with game animals for sport and food. The park had a deep ditch and a high fence. This kept animals in and people out. The Earl of Leicester's park of Tooley was below Shilton Hill. It stretched towards Desford and covered about 450 acres (1.8 km²).

The park was managed by the Earl's bailiff, or 'Keeper of the park'. This was an important job. The park made a lot of money. It provided timber, raised horses, and supplied fresh meat. People also paid fees to graze their animals there.

Edmund Crouchback and Beyond

King Henry briefly held Shilton manor after Simon de Montfort's death. He then gave it to his son, Edmund 'Crouchback'. Edmund became Earl of Leicester and Lancaster. He took over Earl Shilton in 1272. From this time, the parish was held by the Lancaster family.

The Earl appointed Richard de Schulton to manage the estate. Richard collected the Earl's payments for about thirty years.

In 1297, the manor of Sheltone was described. The main house and gardens were worth three shillings. There were 240 acres (1 km²) of farmland. The village also had a windmill and a watermill. There was a pasture and grazing land. The Park of Tolowe (Tooley) was used for the bailiff's animals.

Richard de Schulton was a knight. He lived and worked in Earl Shilton. He and his wife, Constance, were lord and lady of the manor. They had at least two sons, Richard and John. The family owned other lands nearby.

Thomas of Lancaster became the new lord of Shilton Manor in 1298. This was after his father, Edmund 'Crouchback', died. Earl Shilton manor was worth £7 a year at this time.

Richard de Schulton the elder died in 1314. His wife remarried. This led to family arguments over the inheritance.

In 1324, Henry, the Earl of Leicester and Lancaster, visited Shilton Manor. This was a grand event. There was food and lodging for many barons, knights, and servants. The town's records show the costs of this visit.

Changes and Challenges

In 1326, an armed group raided Earl Shilton. They broke into the manor house. They took goods worth £300. The people involved were later charged with the crime.

Constance de Shulton, the lady of the manor, died in 1349. This was the year the Black Death arrived in Earl Shilton. Her son, Richard, took over the family estates.

The manor of Earl Shilton was given to John of Gaunt in 1359. This was part of his wife Blanche's dowry. John of Gaunt often enjoyed hunting in Shilton Park.

By 1392, Robert de Swillington was leasing land in Shilton Park. This included Priors Wood and Shilton Wood. His family's connection to Shilton Park ended in 1427.

In 1420, a group of poachers were caught in Shilton Park. They were charged with breaking into the king's park and hunting. The punishment for poaching was often severe.

During the reign of King Edward IV, the Shilton Park laws were removed. The land was given to the Ruding family.

King Richard III's Visit

On August 19, 1485, King Richard III gathered his army in Leicester. He learned that his enemies were nearby. Richard's army left Leicester. They are thought to have used an old path to Shilton Hill. His army spent the night camped near the churches of Shilton and Elmesthorpe. They likely took all the food from the village. The army then moved on to Ambion Hill. There, Richard was defeated and killed.

After the Wars of the Roses, Henry VII brought back the Park laws for Earl Shilton. Henry Churchman became the bailiff for the park.

Tudor and Stuart Times

In the reign of Henry VIII, some land in Earl Shilton was given to Trinity Hospital, Cambridge. By 1564, only ten families lived in Earl Shilton. This was fewer than in 1086.

During the reign of Charles I, the Crown sold Earl Shilton's farm. The rents from this land later went to Guy’s Hospital, London.

In 1636, John Wightman gave £50 for the poor of Hinckley. A field in Earl Shilton was also rented out. Its income helped the poor of Hinckley for many years. By 1664, Earl Shilton had 34 households paying hearth tax. In 1687, there were 52 houses.

The Sale of Tooley Park

In 1608, Tooley Park had 3,500 trees. Henry Morrison and his wife bought Simon de Montfort's hunting park of Tooley. Their daughter, Letticia, lived there for a time.

The English Civil War began in 1642. The area around Earl Shilton became a buffer zone between Royalists and Parliamentarians. New taxes were introduced to support the armies. After the war, Parliament punished its enemies. Richard Churchman of Earl Shilton had to pay a large fine to get his estates back. The local curate, William Holdsworth, was also accused of being a Royalist. He was brought before a committee in 1646.

The Rise of Baptists

There were Baptists in Earl Shilton from 1651. These Dissenters met in secret. Their religion was against the law. Even after the Restoration, Baptists were still persecuted. Eventually, Baptist worship was allowed by Parliament. King Charles II granted licenses to Edward Cheyney and William Biges of Earl Shilton.

John Goadby died in 1714. In his will, he left land called Crowhearst to the 'minister and poor Baptists in Earl Shilton'. Many generations of the Cheney family worked for the Baptists.

A Baptist meeting house was built in 1758. It was made bigger in 1844. The Sunday school started in 1801.

In 1861, the American Civil War broke out. This caused economic problems in the village. Cotton could not be exported. The Baptist minister, Reverend Parkinson, had to leave because there wasn't enough money. Crowhearst land was sold in 1928.

Earl Shilton still has a Baptist church. It celebrated its 360th anniversary in 2011.

Thomas Boothby of Tooley

In 1696, Thomas Boothby inherited the Tooley Park estate. He was only 15. He owned land in several counties. Thomas Boothby loved hunting. He started the first true pack of foxhounds in the country. He was the founding Master of the Quorn Hunt for 55 seasons.

Early Schools in Earl Shilton

Thomas Green, the Baptist Church leader, started the village's first school in 1801. Children learned reading, writing, and Christian faith there. In 1850, John Green was the school master. This school continued until 1858.

The Church of England Schools were built in 1858. They could hold 200 children. They cost £1,050 to build. Money came from donations and grants. One school was on High Street, and another on Wood Street.

The Knitwear Industry and Hard Times

In the 19th century, Earl Shilton's economy relied on boots and stockings. Stocking makers worked long hours, sometimes 10 to 15 hours a day. They earned very little, about seven or eight shillings a week. Frame rents were high. Poverty and disease were common. In 1824, there was a framework knitters' strike in Hinckley.

By 1831, Earl Shilton's population had grown to 2,017.

Many people in Earl Shilton became very poor in the 1840s. They had to go to the Union Workhouse in Hinckley. This time was known as the "Hungry Forties". Queen Victoria ordered an investigation into the hardship. In 1843, a commission visited Earl Shilton. Stocking manufacturers and workers gave evidence. Rich Wileman, a local manufacturer, said thousands of socks were sent to America each year.

A report showed weekly earnings were very low. Frame rents were high, from 1 to 3 shillings per week. The Truck Act 1831 also made things harder. This law said workers had to be paid in cash, not goods. Many people were close to starvation.

Crime was common in the 1840s. Sheep stealing, highway robbery, and burglary happened often. If someone stole a sheep, they could be sent away for 14 years. Taking a pheasant from the woods also had a harsh punishment.

In 1844, Earl Shilton had 650 stocking frames. These were all in people's homes. The factory system only started after the commission's findings were made public.

Making stockings at home soon ended. Factories became common. People had to work together at set times. The last stocking-frame in Earl Shilton disappeared when its owner died.

Earl Shilton had its first hosiery strike in 1859. Almost 130 workers went on strike. They asked for help from workers in other counties.

Village Life and Traditions

The Wake: A Local Fair

The 'Wake', or local fair, was a holiday in Earl Shilton. It was held on the last Sunday in October. This was the traditional saint's day for the parish church. People had a week off work. Pubs were open all day. 'Captains' were chosen to lead the singing.

In the early 1900s, a field on Station Road became the site for the annual fair. It had fun rides and other attractions. There were also traveling shows, like Holloway’s Theatre. People enjoyed these shows and saw new plays every night.

The Pinfold and Mills

An old stone building called the Pinfold stood near the Baptist Chapel. This was where stray cattle were kept. Later, it was used to weigh stone from the Parish Quarry.

In the 1880s, a 'knocker-up' was employed. This person would wake people up for early Sunday morning classes.

The Old Smock Mill was built around 1800. It cost £800. It stood for over a century before being taken down. It was a famous landmark and a popular spot for picnics. There were two other mills in Earl Shilton.

You can walk through "Old Shilton" without touching the main street. There is a maze of paths called "The Backs." These old paths have kept their rights of way for centuries.

Wood Street was known as Wood End. It led to the wood mentioned in the Domesday Survey. The Raven family had a huge mangle. People from the village brought their washing to be mangled there.

Workhouse Gardens and Spring Gardens are names of areas near the church. They were important to the community long ago. Rackett Court once stood near "Hill Top." These were old Tudor buildings. An ancient barn with massive oak beams is also in this area.

There are a few old Georgian houses around "Hill Top." An old thatched house from 1714 is opposite the "Roebuck Inn." It is one of the few thatched houses left in Shilton. Keats Lane was once called "Cake Lane." It used to have many old-fashioned houses.

A bake-house was once near Whitemore’s factory. A bell would ring when the oven was hot. This was when people made bread at home and sent it to the bakers. There was also a bake house in Candle Maker Alley. People would take their roasts there to be cooked.

The old Yew Tree Farm stood near West Street. A malt-house was once on this spot. The "Dog and Gun Inn" moved in the 1930s. The old building is now a private house.

Until the 1940s, a glove business used hand frames in Keats Lane. Spindle Hall was the last house to have these old glove frames. Many old houses like "Wightmans Row" have been taken down.

American Civil War's Impact

In 1861, the American Civil War began. Earl Shilton was badly affected. The Union blocked Southern ports, stopping cotton exports. Conditions like famine appeared in Earl Shilton. Most homes did framework knitting, which used cotton. The Baptist minister had to leave due to lack of money.

Building Elmesthorpe Road started as relief work. Many workers received only bread and meat for their efforts. More than 1,200 people were out of work. The Earl of Lovelace and his daughter sponsored this work in 1862–63. They also gave £800 to unemployed cotton workers to work with worsted instead.

The hard times continued for many years. In July 1864, the Hinckley District Relief Committee reported on aid. Earl Shilton parish raised £161 1s. 4d. The poor received £992 10s. 4d. from that fund. They also received flour, bacon, coal, and clothes.

By the late 1800s, the parish held land for charity. This included Town Land Meadow and other fields. These lands were rented out. The money helped the poor. They received bread at Easter and coal at Christmas. Allotments were also set aside for the poor.

Schools and Modern Education

Wood Street School

Wood Street School opened in 1871 for about 30 students. Miss Witnall was the headmistress. It was a very small school with only two classrooms. In 1907, two more classrooms and a corridor were added. This was because the village grew, and the school became crowded.

By 1965, student numbers were so high that they used the church hall. It was used for school dinners, physical education, and music.

Wood Street School partly burned down on January 17, 1984. This happened after a break-in. Curtains were set on fire, which caused major damage. The school was later torn down.

Today's Schools

Earl Shilton has four primary schools. It also has a secondary school, Heath Lane Academy. This school was formed in 2016.

Industry and Business Today

William Iliffe brought the knitting frame to Hinckley in 1640. In 1694, Sir Verney Noel left £100 for poor children in Earl Shilton. This money was to send them to London to learn framework knitting.

From the 1800s to the late 1900s, Earl Shilton was an industrial village. It had many shoe, hosiery, and knitwear factories. Some factories made boots for the Russian army.

Many of these businesses have closed due to competition. But a few continue today. Other businesses also thrived. These included local delivery companies like Woodwards and Crowfoots. Both are now based in nearby Barwell.

The Earl Shilton Building Society started in the village in 1857. Its main office is still here. In 2022, it was the second-smallest building society in the UK.

Getting Around Earl Shilton

The town is on the A47 road. A bypass opened in 2009. Bus services run around the town. They connect to Hinckley, Nuneaton, and Leicester.

The South Leicestershire Railway extended its line to Elmesthorpe in 1863. A station was built there for Earl Shilton and Barwell. It closed in 1968. The closest railway station today is in Hinckley.

Media and News

Television signals come from the Waltham or Sutton Coldfield transmitters. The town is served by BBC CWR and BBC Radio Leicester. Other radio stations include Capital East Midlands and Smooth East Midlands. Local newspapers include the Leicester Mercury and Hinckley Times. The Earl Shilton News is an online local newspaper.

Sports in Earl Shilton

Earl Shilton has a strong history in cricket. The Earl Shilton Town Cricket Club plays at Keats Lane. Several local players were chosen for county teams.

Shilton Victors was a football team. They won three cups in one day. Many factories in the village had football teams. These matches were played after work. There was strong rivalry and good football. By 1923, Earl Shilton had many football clubs. The church and chapel also had teams. The town's current football team, Earl Shilton Albion FC, plays in the Leicestershire Senior League Division One. Their home stadium is Stoneycroft Park.

Bob Newton (1946–2009) was a professional footballer. He played for Leicester City and Bradford City. He was born in Earl Shilton.

Norman Dagley (1930-1999) was born and raised in Earl Shilton. He learned to play billiards at The Earl Shilton Social Institute. Norman was a very talented billiards player. He won many county and national competitions. He became a professional player and reached the world championship in 1977. Norman was the first billiards player to win all the major trophies in one season. His trophies and cue are now on display at The Stute snooker hall.

Foot racing was once very popular. Many races were held in local fields. A short-lived greyhound racing track opened in 1928.

Between the World Wars, Earl Shilton had a horticultural society. It held an annual flower and sports event. This included cycle racing, high jumps, and donkey racing.

Social Life and Entertainment

The Social Institute

The Social Institute (known as the 'Stute') was founded around 1900. It provided social and sports activities for young men. Its first home was above a gas showroom on Wood Street.

A big event was held in 1908 to raise money for a new building. The new building was built on Station Road in 1909. The Institute organized football, cricket, chess, skittles, and billiards. It also had a rifle range. The building is now used by a play school.

Harrys: The Local Cinema

Before cinemas, circuses and wild animal shows visited Earl Shilton. In 1910, the Royal Rink roller skating rink opened. Later, Mr. H. S. Cooper turned it into the Picture House cinema. It was often called 'Harrys'.

After World War II, many children grew up going to Saturday movies at the Picture House. There was also a new outdoor roller skating rink next to it. In the 1960s, Mr. Cooper's daughter and her husband took over the cinema.

Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic church of St Peter was built in 1908 on Mill Lane. A Roman Catholic school was built next to it in 1910. It could educate 80 children. A convent and priest’s house were added later. The church was supported by the Worswick family. They had their country home at Normanton Hall.

In the First World War, German prisoners of war were held at Normanton Hall. A fire destroyed Normanton Hall in 1925. The property was then sold. The ornate altar from the hall was given to St Peter's church. Another fire in the 1940s damaged part of the church building.

The convent was sometimes empty. It was used as a seminary and later as a hosiery factory. In 1983, a new Roman Catholic Church of SS Peter and Paul was completed on Melton Street.

Earl Shilton in the World Wars

First World War Efforts

A thousand men from Earl Shilton served in UK forces during the First World War. Many men from Earl Shilton also served in Ireland in the 1916 Easter Rising. Village factories made thousands of socks and army boots for the government. They also supplied boots for the Russian Cossacks.

Later in the war, Earl Shilton held a 'big gun week'. A large howitzer was paraded around the village. People were asked to buy War Bonds. Military bands visited to encourage people to join the army. Young men were eager to enlist. In one week, 80 men joined up. Crowds cheered them as they marched to Elmesthorpe station. They were on their way to the Western Front.

Hostilities ended on November 11, 1918. All work stopped for the day. Flags and decorations appeared in windows. Fireworks were set off. A comic band toured the streets. German prisoners of war, working in the area, watched silently.

A captured field gun stood near the Wesleyan Chapel for a time. Its final resting place was the Wood Street Recreation Ground. More than 100 men from the village died in the war. A cenotaph (a monument for those who died in war) was built to remember them. Two soldiers from Earl Shilton are buried in the parish churchyard. After the war, parades were held to honor the dead.

Second World War Experiences

In the Second World War, Earl Shilton had 192 air raid alerts. The first was on June 26, 1940, and the last on March 20, 1945. The village siren was on a factory in Wood Street. Many villagers had shelters in their gardens. There were also public shelters in Wood Street, Station Road, and other areas.

The Home Guard was formed in June 1940. Their headquarters were in a house called 'Holydene'. Three parachute mines were dropped on November 20, 1940. Two landed in Earl Shilton. One did not explode, and no one was hurt.

More bombs fell in Elmesthorpe on December 4, 1940. A German plane was shot down nearby. The Earl Shilton Home Guard were called to the scene. Prisoners were taken.

On July 27, 1942, a German bomber dropped three bombs near the church. They landed behind a farm on Church Street. A barn was destroyed, and a house was badly damaged. The farmer narrowly escaped. A bull was so badly injured it had to be put down. The plane then machine-gunned people going to work.

Air Raid Patrol wardens met in the back room of the Plough pub. They checked the blackout rules and watched for fires.

A munitions factory opened in the village. Earl Shilton also took in child refugees from Coventry, Birmingham, and London.

Soldiers stayed in most public buildings during the war. The Working Men's Club, Adult School Hall, and Social Institute were used by the military. After the Dunkirk evacuation, different army groups moved into the village. The Wesleyan Chapel became a British Restaurant for the troops. Training took place on recreation grounds. A sand pit was used as a shooting range.

About 900 local men and women served in the armed forces. Twenty-five of them were killed. Two soldiers are buried in the Earl Shilton Cemetery.

Images for kids

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  Town sign

See also

In Spanish: Earl Shilton para niños